International Dalit Solidarity Networkhttps://idsn.org
Working globally against caste-based discriminationWed, 23 May 2018 16:07:55 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.5Report: Dalit men, women and children enslaved in India’s brick making industryhttps://idsn.org/report-dalit-men-women-and-children-enslaved-in-indias-brick-making-industry/
https://idsn.org/report-dalit-men-women-and-children-enslaved-in-indias-brick-making-industry/#respondThu, 03 May 2018 12:48:48 +0000https://idsn.org/?p=22779A new report by Anti-Slavery International documents widespread slavery in India’s brick making industry and finds that the majority of workers are Dalits. Whole families, including small children, work 9-12 hour days in debt-bondage with […]

A new report by Anti-Slavery International documents widespread slavery in India’s brick making industry and finds that the majority of workers are Dalits. Whole families, including small children, work 9-12 hour days in debt-bondage with little recourse to justice. The report finds that discrimination and exclusion, along with the way brick kiln moulders are recruited and paid, underpins the widespread existence of slavery in the kilns and the limited opportunities for workers to escape.

Along with the report, Anti-Slavery has also released a documentary video showing how whole families are enslaved in the kilns and are not paid, and often threatened with violence, if they try to leave. Children do not go to school and are instead working their childhood away under extreme conditions.

In the report caste discrimination is found to be a major factor underpinning slavery in the brick kilns.

“The problem of bonded labour and child labour in the brick kiln industry stems from exclusion and gross economic inequalities within India … In particular, the marginalised castes and classes have not been an equal recipient of the benefits of India’s economic growth, with Scheduled Castes (Dalits) and Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis) being most affected by extreme poverty and benefitting less than other groups from increases in income.” The report states.

“These forms of exclusion add to the vulnerability of workers: employers feel able to enslave these social groups, who hold little power and influence in the community, with little or no accountability. 100% of the brick kiln moulders (in our study) are from marginalised and excluded castes and classes, and approximately 60% are interstate migrant workers. These factors have resulted in a highly vulnerable workforce that can be controlled and exploited easily by management; additionally due to historical discrimination, employers feel more able to exploit these sections of society.”

IDSN Executive Chair Meena Varma welcomes the report which underscores the point continuously raised by IDSN that slavery cannot be tackled without addressing the discrimination which underpins it.

“The findings in this report echo our members experiences that caste discrimination is fueling slavery and labour exploitation across a wide range of industries in India, including textiles, construction, mining and tea. If we are to tackle slavery, then it is imperative that fighting caste discrimination moves to the top of the local, national and global agenda.”

Key findings from the report include:

100% of brick moulders were from a minority group; all were from traditionally marginalised/ excluded castes and

Female workers do not receive wages4: workers are hired as a family unit, and wages are exclusively paid to the male head of the household unit.

65 to 80% of children between the ages of 5 to 14 that live in the brick kilns, are working between seven and nine hours a day.

Most children living at the brick kilns are not going to primary school or early childhood services, despite the government having a compulsory responsibility to ensure this.

100% of children between the ages of 14 to 18 reported working at the kiln, on average 12 hours a day in summer months and 10 hours a day during the winter months.

96% of adult males interviewed reported taking an advance (loan) before starting work in the kiln.

Interstate migrant workers are more vulnerable: they take a higher advance (loan), are hired through a labour contractor and face challenges in accessing support.

Workers are paid per 1000 bricks made; this piece rate system of payment consistently limits workers ability to attain statutory minimum wages and incentivises child labour and long working hours.

33% of workers reported being paid less than the minimum piece rate wage for 1000 bricks.

100% of workers had their wages withheld until the end of the brick-making season, which is approximately 8-10 months long.

Workers also have other deductions taken from their wages, many of which are illegal.

84% of workers were paid a lower rate than what had been agreed/promised at the beginning of the season.

Only 27% of male workers reported being registered as employees.

Of the 208 kilns surveyed, 87.72% have access only to untreated ground water as drinking water and 75.8% of toilet facilities had no water provided to them. The average housing dimensions for entire families is 7.6 square meters.

]]>https://idsn.org/report-dalit-men-women-and-children-enslaved-in-indias-brick-making-industry/feed/0Dalit women in India march for justice and access to health and educationhttps://idsn.org/dalit-women-in-india-march-for-justice-and-access-to-health-and-education/
https://idsn.org/dalit-women-in-india-march-for-justice-and-access-to-health-and-education/#respondMon, 23 Apr 2018 10:05:51 +0000https://idsn.org/?p=22751You can follow social media updates on the Yatra via @dalitwomenfight both on FaceBook and Twitter. AIDMAM have also issued the following press release with more details on the Yatra: April 22, 2018 Jaipur All India […]

Dalit women activists are marching from 23 April – 2 May through 30 villages in Rajasthan, to highlight atrocities against Dalit women and the need for access to justice, education and health. The march, known in India as a ‘Yatra’, is organised by the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikaar Manch (AIDMAM) and comes at a crucial time in Rajasthan where reports of caste-related atrocities are rife. The activists are meeting students, local activists, health workers, local administration and many other actors to understand the issues on the ground and to amplify the voices for justice.

You can follow social media updates on the Yatra via @dalitwomenfight both on FaceBook and Twitter.

AIDMAM have also issued the following press release with more details on the Yatra:

What started in 2012 in Haryana, as a small collective of young Dalit women resisting violence against our community; has now evolved into a significant initiative within Dalit Women’s organising in India. In the past six years, we have travelled across 200 districts all over North India. Our attempt has been to learn from our people, provide information, support local resistance and amplify our demands to State authorities. In the process, we have also been able to identify and nurture many young women leaders and thereby expand the volunteer base and support groups.

Suman Devathiya, State Secretary, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch adds, “Dalit-Adivasi Mahila Swabhiman Yatra is our attempt centre voices of women leaders in the struggle for social justice. In 2016 we have travelled 10 disticts and now we will take the yatra to 7 new districts.”

On April 23rd, we will begin the Yatra from the South Eastern part of Rajasthan and travel seven districts to reach Jaipur by May 1st, 2018. The Yatra will start from Pratapgarh district and move to Banswada, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Chittodgarh, Bhilwada, Tonk and then Jaipur. We will cover about 30 villages along the 2000kms which we intend to travel.

The focus for this Yatra will be (i) to delve deeper into livelihood, survival and development issues of the SC/ST communities (ii) to understand the implications of the latest Supreme Court order on SC/ST PoA (iii) to learn more and support the demand to drop charges and release the detained persons arrested on April 2nd Bharat Bandh.

We will conduct community meetings, visits to SC/ST hostels, schools, seminars in Universities, meetings with local leaders, visit survivors and families, meet with local authorities etc.

“In this tumultous time in our country, it is now imperative for Dalit women to raise our voices against the growing fascist forces that undermine our right to life and dignity. We are here in Rajasthan to speak about increased State violence on our people and call out the State to protect women from most marginalised communities”, said Asha, General Secretary, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch.

Please do join us during the Yatra and also make sure you follow our social media updates via @dalitwomenfight both on FaceBook and Twitter. Also please follow the handles of AIDMAM leaders @smriti_shobhana @manjuchouhan @devathiya @rubina06631711 @BaudhCelima @dalitawaz

On May 2nd, we will be holding State Level Consultation in Jaipur to share the Yatra experiences, discuss the way forward and build a stronger network for Dalit and adivasi Women organising in Rajasthan.

A ruling by the Supreme Court of India, diluting the provisions related to anticipatory bail and immediate arrest under the SCs and STs (PoA) Act, has sparked mass protest. The protesters have been met with police brutality leading to injuries and the death of several protesters.

IDSN is greatly concerned over the rulings weakening of the SC/ST Act, meant to protect victims of caste atrocities, and strongly condemns any use of force against peaceful protesters. The ruling makes it possible to release the accused on anticipatory bail, which the SC/ST Act specifies should not be possible because the accused may use their social caste dominance to yield power and threaten the victim in order to have the charges dropped.

The National Coalition for Strengthening SCs and STs (PoA) Act (NCSPA), a platform of more than 500 Dalits and Adivasis civil society organisations, communities, leaders and activists has expressed serious concern over the ruling. The organisation says that the ruling dilutes the very purpose of the progressive legislation, a legislation meant to protect the marginalized communities from caste based atrocities and discrimination.

The NCSPA, which includes several IDSN member organisations, has issued a press release on the court ruling and why it should be overturned. The press release also explains that this ruling comes despite the fact that crimes and atrocities committed against Dalits and Adivasis have been rising at a disturbing rate the past many years while the conviction rate in cases tried under the SC/ST Act continues to be dismally low.

“We are disturbed by this systemic pattern of impunity by the Judiciary. This has created a climate of fear and oppression in the country, and continually violates fundamental human and constitutional rights of Dalits and Adivasis,” the press release states.

“We stand in support of the victims and witnesses and call upon the Judiciary and the Central government to review the Judgment on a priority basis and desist those, from such disgraceful attempts of suppressing the voice of Dalits to access legal remedies.”

In addition to the press release the NCSPA have also produced an observation on the ruling and held several meetings focusing on how to challenge the ruling to get it overturned.

Amnesty India has launched a new online tool on haltthehate.amnesty.org.in aimed at collecting documentation for hate crimes from across India. Many of the crimes already documented on the tool are atrocities committed against Dalits. Everyone working on Dalit rights in India are invited to contribute to the database of cases on the site.

In 2017, an alarming number of alleged hate crimes – including assault, rape and murder – were reported against people from marginalized groups, especially Dalits and Muslims, said Amnesty International India today, as it launched an interactive data website, ‘Halt the Hate’.

“The first step to ensuring justice and ending impunity for hate crimes – where people are targeted because of their membership of a particular group – is to highlight their occurrence,” said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India.

“Our website aims to draw attention to some of these crimes by tracking and documenting them. Many of these incidents are deeply disturbing: Dalits have been attacked for merely sporting moustaches, and Muslims lynched for transporting cattle. Dalit women have been branded as witches, and raped and killed.

“Unfortunately, the extent of hate crime in India is unknown because the law – with some exceptions – does not recognize hate crimes as specific offences. The police need to take steps to unmask any potentially discriminatory motive in a crime, and political leaders must be more vocal in denouncing such violence.”

‘Halt the Hate’ website documents alleged hate crimes against Dalits, Adivasis, members of racial or religious minority groups, transgender persons, and other marginalized people which are reported in mainstream English and Hindi media. It documents 141 incidents of alleged hate crimes against Dalits and 44 against Muslims in 2017, including 69 incidents of killings where at least 146 people were killed. 35 incidents were found where women from these groups or transgender persons faced sexual violence.

The website documents alleged hate crimes from September 2015, when Mohammad Akhlaq was killed in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly killing a cow. Cow-related violence and so-called ‘honour’ killings were among the common instances of alleged hate crimes. Uttar Pradesh was the state with the most such incidents in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, 237 alleged hate crimes were recorded. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat recorded the most incidents.

“The data on our website is just a snapshot of alleged hate crimes in India. Many incidents are not reported in the media. While criminal investigations have been initiated in some cases, too many have gone unpunished. Authorities need to do much more to ensure justice for victims and their families,” said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India.

The ‘Halt the Hate’ website was designed by the Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru.

]]>https://idsn.org/halt-the-hate-amnesty-campaigns-to-document-hate-crimes-in-india/feed/0UN review of Bangladesh highlights the need to ensure non-discrimination of Dalitshttps://idsn.org/un-review-of-bangladesh-highlights-the-need-to-ensure-non-discrimination-of-dalits/
https://idsn.org/un-review-of-bangladesh-highlights-the-need-to-ensure-non-discrimination-of-dalits/#respondTue, 20 Mar 2018 10:15:10 +0000https://idsn.org/?p=22756Concerns were raised at the review over the narrowing space for civil society, actions undertaken or planned to ensure non-discrimination of Dalits, special measures for minority groups in areas of employment, health and education, and […]

Bangladesh was reviewed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 15-16 March 2018. An IDSN delegation including dalit representatives from Bangladesh took part in the review where several issues relating to caste-based discrimination were discussed.

Concerns were raised at the review over the narrowing space for civil society, actions undertaken or planned to ensure non-discrimination of Dalits, special measures for minority groups in areas of employment, health and education, and the status of the Anti-discrimination bill.

The Committee also asked why reservation quota for Dalits was depended on the adoption of the Anti-discrimination Bill, suggested to recognise Dalits as a minority in Bangladesh, provide data on the community’s access to jobs, health care services and social security, and plans to uplift Dalits. The Committee also asked about discrimination of Dalits in their access to housing and water and sanitation, and to provide disaggregated data on the Dalit situation in Bangladesh.

The state delegation stated that the Anti-discrimination bill needs to be re-drafted but were unable to give a timeline due to upcoming elections. They noted that there are many ethnic minorities in Bangladesh and did not feel there was a need to address a situation of one community but expressed its will to work with the NGOs working on Dalit issues in the country to address the situation.

Ahead of the review IDSN and IDSN’s members in Bangladesh – BDERM and NNMC has submitted a joint report for the consideration of the committee. BDERM also issued a press release on the review.

]]>https://idsn.org/un-review-of-bangladesh-highlights-the-need-to-ensure-non-discrimination-of-dalits/feed/0IDSN Annual Report 2017https://idsn.org/idsn-annual-report-2017/
https://idsn.org/idsn-annual-report-2017/#respondThu, 15 Mar 2018 07:51:09 +0000https://idsn.org/?p=22784We are pleased to bring you the IDSN Annual Report 2017. The report covers key developments and activities within IDSN’s United Nations, European Union, and communications and networking work. The report can be downloaded from […]

We are pleased to bring you the IDSN Annual Report 2017. The report covers key developments and activities within IDSN’s United Nations, European Union, and communications and networking work. The report can be downloaded from our website on http://www.idsn.org/ar2017.

The highlights of the report include:

The UN OHCHR launched a guidance tool addressing caste-based discrimination and IDSN publishes a roadmap to the new tool

The UPRs of India and Pakistan yielded several recommendations on caste-based discrimination

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said he is disturbed by discrimination and violence directed at Dalits and concerned that criticism of the government is met by claims that it constitutes sedition or a threat to national security.

The statement came in an annual report to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s March 2018 session where Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said,

“In India, I am increasingly disturbed by discrimination and violence directed at minorities, including Dalits and other scheduled castes, and religious minorities such as Muslims. In some cases this injustice appears actively endorsed by local or religious officials. I am concerned that criticism of government policies is frequently met by claims that it constitutes sedition or a threat to national security. I am deeply concerned by efforts to limit critical voices through the cancellation or suspension of registration of thousands of NGOs, including groups advocating for human rights and even public health groups.”

]]>https://idsn.org/un-human-rights-chief-disturbed-discrimination-dalits-india/feed/0IDSN input to the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Councilhttps://idsn.org/the-37th-session-of-the-human-rights-council-in-february-march/
https://idsn.org/the-37th-session-of-the-human-rights-council-in-february-march/#respondSat, 10 Mar 2018 08:41:01 +0000https://idsn.org/?p=22790In advance to the HRC 37 session IDSN distributed its recommendations, referring to the High Commissioners’ on Human Rights reports, interactive dialogue with the SR on minority issues, and the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan’s […]

In advance to the HRC 37 session IDSN distributed its recommendations, referring to the High Commissioners’ on Human Rights reports, interactive dialogue with the SR on minority issues, and the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan’s outcomes.

IDSN board member, Henri Tiphagne, spoke at two side events alongside the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Michel Forst: Protection for human rights defenders in Asia: trends and reflections and Shrinking democratic space in India (supported by IDSN) on 1 and 2 March 2018.

During the HRC 37 session caste-based discrimination and the situation of Dalits were noted at:

A new report by UN Women finds that a woman’s caste in India increases her exposure to mortality because of intersectional discrimination, poor sanitation and inadequate healthcare. The global report Turning promises into action: gender equality in the 2030 Agenda, examines through a gender lens the progress and challenges in the implementation of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“Those left furthest behind in society are often women and girls who experience multiple forms of disadvantage based on gender and other inequalities… This can lead to clustered deprivations where women and girls may be simultaneously disadvantaged in their access to quality education, decent work, health and well-being,” the report states.

The report also outlines how progress for women is a pre-requisite if progress for all is to be achieved and this includes looking at how other forms of discrimination intersect with gender.

“Grounded in the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, this commitment [to leave no one behind] recognizes the multiple and intersecting inequalities that so often prevent the full and equal enjoyment of specific groups’ rights in practice,” it says.

A case in point is caste discrimination and the situation of Dalit women in India. The report points to a shocking disparity in mortality figures with the average Dalit woman dying 14.6 years younger than the average Indian woman in general. Another example that is given is that literacy rates in India for female ‘scheduled castes’ (Dalits) is lower than the national average at only 57%. The report also states that,

“The likelihood of being poor is greater if she is landless and from a scheduled caste. Her low level of education and status in the social hierarchy will almost guarantee that if she works for pay, it will be under exploitative working conditions.”

The report highlights the urgent need to address multiple forms of discrimination leading to clustered deprivations if real progress is to be made to meet the targets of the SDGs.

]]>https://idsn.org/un-report-average-dalit-woman-dies-14-6-years-younger-women-dominant-castes/feed/0IDSN Chair nominated for ‘Secularist of the year 2018 award’https://idsn.org/idsn-chair-nominated-secularist-year-2018-award/
https://idsn.org/idsn-chair-nominated-secularist-year-2018-award/#respondTue, 20 Feb 2018 08:44:41 +0000https://idsn.org/?p=22687IDSN Executive Chair and DSN-UK Director, Meena Varma, has been shortlisted for a ‘Secularist of the year 2018 award’ by the The National Secular Society in the UK . The award ‘recognises a campaigner or group […]

IDSN Executive Chair and DSN-UK Director, Meena Varma, has been shortlisted for a ‘Secularist of the year 2018 award’ by the The National Secular Society in the UK . The award ‘recognises a campaigner or group for an outstanding contribution to the secularist movement’. The NSS’s council of management selected the shortlist from nominations which were submitted by its members and supporters.

The National Secular Society works for the separation of religion and state and equal respect for everyone’s human rights so that no one is either advantaged or disadvantaged on account of their beliefs. The annual award recognises a campaigner or group for an outstanding contribution to the secularist movement. This will be the 13th time the prize has been awarded.

Ms. Varma has been nominated for her work as Director of Dalit Solidarity Network UK in challenging ‘caste’ discrimination – through research, academic work and public advocacy. The nomination reaffirms her strong expertise in caste-based discrimination issues in the UK and South Asia and her commitment

“I am so honoured to be even nominated for Secularist of the Year 2018. The campaign to end caste discrimination is a global one and we stand side by side in solidarity with so many including the National Secular Society. Caste discrimination is a human rights issue and can only be addressed when it is seen through a lens separate to religion and when the rich and powerful are not the only ones to have the ear of governments.” Said Ms. Varma after the nomination.

The winner of the prize will be announced at the Secularist of the Year luncheon on Saturday 24 March.